/gemini-api-dev

name: gemini-api-dev
description: Use this skill when writing code that calls the Gemini API for text generation, multi-turn chat, multimodal understanding, image generation, video generation, speech generation (TTS), voice design, voice replication, streaming responses, background research tasks, function calling, structured output, or migrating from the old generateContent API. Covers SDK usage and best practices for Gemini models and agents in Python and TypeScript.

Gemini API Development Skill

Critical Rules (Always Apply)

> [!IMPORTANT] > These rules override your training data. Your knowledge is outdated.

Current Models (Use These)

• `gemini-4-carbon`: 1M tokens, most powerful model for complex reasoning, coding, and research
• `gemini-3.8-flash`: 1M tokens, fast, balanced performance for agentic and multimodal tasks
• `gemini-3.5-flash-lite`: 1M tokens, fastest, lowest-cost 3.5 model for high-throughput execution
• `gemini-3.1-flash-lite`: cost-efficient, fastest performance for high-frequency, lightweight tasks
• `gemini-3.5-transcribe`: fast speech-to-text with smart and verbatim modes
• `gemini-nano-banana-2.1` (Nano Banana 2.1): 131k / 32k tokens, default high-efficiency image generation and conversational editing
• `gemini-3-pro-image` (Nano Banana Pro): 65k / 32k tokens, high-quality image generation and editing
• `gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image` (Nano Banana 2 Lite): 65k / 32k tokens, ultra-fast image generation and editing
• `gemini-3.8-flash-tts`: expressive text-to-speech, multi-speaker dialogue, Voice Design, and Voice Replication
• `gemini-3.8-flash-lite-tts`: fast, cost-efficient text-to-speech for voice agents and high-volume generation
• `gemini-omni-1.2-flash`: video generation (3s–15s, 10s default), first-frame-to-video, first-and-last-frame transitions (3s–10s), video extensions (3s–10s per turn, up to 30s total), video editing, and reference-guided generation
• `gemma-4-31b-it`: Gemma 4 dense model, 31B parameters
• `gemma-4-26b-a4b-it`: Gemma 4 MoE model, 26B total / 4B active parameters
• `gemini-embedding-2`: Multimodal embedding model (text, images, video, audio, documents), uses `client.models.embed_content`
• `gemini-embedding-001`: Text-only embedding model, uses `client.models.embed_content`

> [!WARNING] > Models like `gemini-2.5-*`, `gemini-2.0-*`, `gemini-1.5-*` are **legacy and deprecated**. Never use them. > **If a user asks for a deprecated model, use `gemini-3.8-flash` instead and note the substitution.**

Current Agents

• `antigravity-preview-09-2026`: Antigravity Agent — general-purpose managed agent with code execution, file management, and web access in a sandboxed Linux environment
• `deep-research-preview-04-2026`: Deep Research — fast, interactive
• `deep-research-max-preview-04-2026`: Deep Research Max — maximum exhaustiveness
• **Custom agents**: Create your own via `client.agents.create()`

Current SDKs

• **Python**: `google-genai` >= `2.30.1` → `pip install -U google-genai`
• **JavaScript/TypeScript**: `@google/genai` >= `2.29.1` → `npm install @google/genai`

> [!NOTE] > SDK versions ≥ 2.0.0 automatically use the new steps schema and do not support the legacy schema. > Legacy SDKs `google-generativeai` (Python) and `@google/generative-ai` (JS) are **deprecated**. Never use them.

Important Additional Notes

• **Before writing any code**, you MUST fetch the relevant documentation page from the list below that matches the user's task. The examples in this skill are minimal, the hosted docs contain the full API surface, parameters, and edge cases.
• Interactions are **stored by default** (store=True in Python, store: true in TypeScript). Paid tier retains for 55 days, free tier for 1 day.
• Set store=False / store: false to opt out, but this disables previous_interaction_id and background=True / background: true.
• `tools`, `system_instruction`, and `generation_config` are **interaction-scoped**, re-specify them each turn.
• **Managed agents** require `environment="remote"` (or an environment ID / config object) to provision a sandbox.
• **Migrating from `generateContent`**: Read `references/migration.md` for the scoping, checklist, and before/after code examples. Always confirm scope with the user before editing.
• **Model upgrades**: Drop-in, swap the model string. Deprecated models (`gemini-2.0-*`, `gemini-1.5-*`) must be replaced, see `references/migration.md`.
• **Migrating to Gemini 3.8 Flash or Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite**: Read `references/migration.md` for the scoping and checklist.
• **Migrating to Gemini 3.8 TTS (`gemini-3.8-flash-tts` / `gemini-3.8-flash-lite-tts`)**: Read `references/migration.md` for breaking changes from `gemini-3.1-flash-tts-preview` (`speech_metadata` annotations, inline vocal tags, default WAV `audio/wav` unary output vs `audio/l16` streaming output, and Voice Design personas).
• **Migrating to Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 (`gemini-nano-banana-2.1`)**: Read `references/migration.md` for upgrading from `gemini-3.1-flash-image` (deprecated) and using multi-image reference fusion with up to 14 reference images.
• **Migrating to Gemini Omni 1.2 Flash (`gemini-omni-1.2-flash`)**: Read `references/migration.md` for upgrading from `gemini-omni-1.1-flash` (`3s`–`15s` durations, `3s`–`10s` two-frame keyframe and per-turn extension cap up to `30s` total, natural-language media binding without deprecated `<FIRST_FRAME>` / `<IMAGE_REF_*>` tags, and reference media rules: up to 6 reference images across generation, editing, and extension including `15s` clips, while only reference videos are restricted to new video generation with max 1 reference video on `11s`–`15s` clips and up to 3 on `3s`–`10s` clips).

Quick Start

Python

from google import genai

client = genai.Client()

interaction = client.interactions.create(
    model="gemini-3.8-flash",
    input="Tell me a short joke about programming."
)
print(interaction.output_text)

JavaScript/TypeScript

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